Hats,
Hats, Hats. Lots and lots of hats! Mark Pasman a.k.a.
“The Paz Man” loves hats. Good thing too, as he has worn
many different hats in his 35-year broadcasting and
entertainment career, and all of it right here in the
Detroit market. Currently the host of “The Motor City
Blues Project” for over 18 years on Detroit’s classic
rock station, 94.7 WCSX, and guitarist for some of
Detroit’s top bands!After a year on-air at WILS-Lansing, Pasman worked on air and behind the scenes for the home of rock & roll, 101FM, WRIF. Starting his 8-year run as an un-paid intern, he worked his way up the ladder: Morning show producer, air staff, programming assistant, assistant P.D. and finally spent his last four years program Director, breaking all previous arbitron ratings records for “The Rif.” Pasman was mentioned by two of the most successful and influential of Detroit broadcasters: Fred Jacobs, now president of Jacob Media, the industry’s top radio consultant and the originator of the classic rock format; and Tom Bender, Vice-President and general manager of Detroit’s three Greater Media stations, WRIF, WCSX, and WMGC.
IN 1984, Pasman began his long-running Sunday evening roots music program (Sundays, 9pm to midnight), along with producing the morning show and joining the air staff. Over the years, he has interviewed many of the top names in entertainment: Bonnie Rait, Eric Burdon, Little Richard, Koko Taylor, Ted Nugent, Willie Dixon, Jeff Beck, and Taj Mahal. Promoted, once again, to program director the following year, he helped establish WCSX and the classic rock format as a major player, here in one of the top radio markets in the country.
Between radio gigs, “The Paz Man” stayed very busy. Playing and studying guitar since age 13, Pasman played the legendary Grande Ballroom with his high school band in the ‘70’s, opened for Bob Seger at Pine Knob (DTE) with his rock’n’soul combo Domino in the ‘80’s and recorded and performed with the multi-award winning funk’n’blues group, Mudpuppy in the ‘90’s, sharing the stage and jamming with the likes of Buddy Guy, Blues Traveler, Double Trouble, Johnny Winter, Robert Cray and Eddie Money. Currently playing around town with his all-star ensemble, “Paz Man’s Supersession,” he released his first solo album Detroit Supersession, recorded live at Memphis Smoke in downtown Royal Oak, a benefit record for Detroit area’s public broadcasting radio stations, WDET and WEMU.
A born and bred Detroiter, Pasman currently shares a home with his fiancé, Karen Katanick, an artist and art teacher at University Liggett School, along with their two dogs, Otis Mud Jr. and Bessie Mae Mucho. When the Paz Man is not teaching at Specs Howard, making radio at WCSX, or playing guitar, You’ll find thie renaissance man hard at work in his home art studio (photography, graphic art, woodworking), home improvement projects for “Che’ Paz” or rooting on our beloved Detroit Red Wings (If and when the NHL returns to action!)